DENVER — A judge on Tuesday threw out the first-degree murder conviction of a man found guilty in the death of his then-girlfriend’s 4-month-old daughter nearly 30 years ago because of new evidence in the case. Stephen Martinez was convicted in 2000 and sentenced to life in prison after prosecutors argued he had beaten Heather … Read more
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s high court on Thursday overturned the use of automatic life sentences without parole for people convicted of second-degree murder, saying it violates the state’s constitutional ban on cruel punishment when imposed without a closer look at the defendant’s specific role and culpability. The court majority ordered resentencing in the case of … Read more
MAGNOLIA, Texas — Unlike many of the Texans packed into the Angry Elephant last week, Phillip Mori wasn’t completely sold on Senate candidate and state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Mori, a 64-year-old mortgage banker and ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, came to the Republican-themed bar hoping to hear Paxton talk about how he would … Read more